PeP+ Explorative

PeP

When PeP+ detects it is being explored, the variables of the active behaviour no longer motivate the light body to move. These variables provide for the light body to be sensitive to things it is not focusing on. They motivate the light body to explore the space, rather than actively focusing on the person. In the explorative behaviour, the light body only gains sensory input where it focuses. It is absorbed in a play with the person and is no longer interested in what happens around it. The light body has to move to get input on other sides. This ignorance is an advantage, as this motivates the light body to start moving in direct relation to the person's activity.
The tension in the body that arises when one focuses on the other while turning the body to lure the other along inspires the creation of two layers in the light body. These layers are directed separately in the algorithm, but appear as one body to the person. The first layer (layer-focus) focuses on the person. The second layer (layer-explore) moves through layer-focus from left to right to explore the interaction space. By these exploratory movements of the layer, the light body gains sensory input and can anticipate the person's activity. Also layer-explore only gains input where it is and has to keep moving in order to perceive the person and anticipate what the person might do next. When the person likes the light body to follow her, she needs to be in the field of focus of the light body and move at the moment that layer-focus can actually follow: which is not possible when it moves in the other direction. When the person does step away, the light body will not immediately follow, and so the person has to wait or step back. When she quickly moves further, she really escapes from PeP+'s perception. Who is following whom can be rather ambiguous. The implementation of the two layers changes the dynamic qualities, but also the appearance of the light body. The dynamic change in both the lived-body and body-image supports the appreciation of 'I perceive you'. PeP+ tries to be closely connected to the person in the explorative behaviour. It might happen that the light body moves too far away from the person when it does not succeed in luring the person along. It can also happen that the person escapes from its focus. When this happens, PeP+ sets out to find the person again by exploring the environment: it shows active behaviour. The play of attraction and escape can be resumed when the person keeps or starts actively exploring PeP+ again.